Sheathing anchor



Jan; 24, 1939. G F. BARNETT 2,144,700

SHEATHING ANC HOR Fi'led May 10, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 24,1939.

G. F. BARNETT 2,144,700

SHEATHING ANC HOB Filed May 10, 1957 -2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and especially to a sheathing anchor whereby the lower edge or ends of the exterior sheathing on a building may be securely anchored with relation to the foundation and frame. In the construction of wooden frame buildings which are covered with sheathing and then with an exterior coat of plaster, considerable trouble is encountered where the sheathing joins the foundation, as the anchorage between the lower edge or ends of the sheathing and the mudsill is none too secure; hence, as the building increases in age and the nails rust away, the lower edge of the sheathing tends to curl and as such, causes the plaster to crack along the line where it joins with the foundation. Such cracks at best do not add to the appearance of the building, and besides that,

form openings for the admission of rain and moisture which starts mould and decay; but worst of all, where districts are infested with termites and like wood-destroying insects,'openings are formed for their ready admission, and once they enter, rapid eating away of the underpinning or frame takes place.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the faults above referred to, and especially to provide a metallic anchor structure whereby the lower edge of the sheathing will be securely and permanently anchored with relation to the frame and foundation of a building, so as to prevent warping of the sheathing and cracking of the plaster, and furthermore providing a metal barrier to prevent the entrance of termites and like wood-destroying insects.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a standard form of mold such as employed for pouring concrete foundations in buildings.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the concrete poured.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the concrete after it has set and the mold has been stripped away.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the mudsill, together with the studding and a part of the sheathing, in place on the foundation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the sheathing anchor.

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-section of the foundation showing the mudsill, the studding, the sheathing and the plaster in place.

Fig. '7 is a similar View showing the plaster in alignment with the sheathing anchor.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the sheathing applied on an angle to the frame.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and par ticularly to Fig. 5, a sheathing anchor is shown which consists of an elongated piece of sheet metal having one edge out to form anchor members 2, and the outer edge bent at right angles as indicated at 3, and provided with nail holes 3a. The anchor members 2 are horizontally disposed, and a second set of anchor members which are vertically disposed is formed near the flange 4 by punching rectangularly-shaped openings and forcing the metal tongues formed thereby downwardly, as indicated at 2a.

When the foundation of a building is to be made, for instance, of concrete, a mold is set up as shown in Fig. 1. The sheathing anchor is tacked or nailed to the inner face of the mold adjacent the upper portion thereof, as indicated at 5, and a 1 x 4 strip or board is then placed inside of the flange of the anchor and is there secured by nailing or the like, as indicated at 6. The concrete is then poured as shown at 'l in Fig. 2, and when the concrete has set the mold boards 8 are removed or stripped off in the usual way, the board 6 being similarly removed. The

sheathing anchor will thus remain in the concrete, as it is anchored by the tongues or lugs 2 and 2a, and a channel is thus formed in the exterior surface of the foundation to receive the lower edge of the sheathing, as will hereinafter be described. As the building construction advances, a mudsill 9 is placed on top of the concrete foundation, the studding i0 is next placed in position, and then the sheathing, as shown at I I. The sheathing may run parallel to the foundation as shown in Fig. 4, when it is nailed in place, or it may be disposed on an angle thereto, as shown in Fig. 8. Be that as it may, the lower edge of the sheathing will extend into the channel formed by the sheet metal anchor, and the lower edge may thus be nailed not only to the mudsill 9 but it will be secured also with relation to the anchor, by means of nails driven through the perforations 3a.

After the sheathing has been applied, heavy felt paper or the like is nailed over the sheathing; on top of that is secured a suitable lath, as shown at l5, and. as a final finish, a coat of plaster I6 is applied. This coat of plaster is usually carried down over the flange 3 on the anchor, as shown at IT in Fig. 6, but it may be terminated at the anchor, as shown at [8 in Fig. 7, by widening the channel in the outer face of the foundation, that is, by inserting a mold board 6 of sufllcient thickness, before the concrete of the foundation is poured, to provide spaced for the sheathing H, the felting material, the lath, and the plaster; whether the plaster terminates at the flange of the anchor, or is extended over the same, is merely a matter of choice, as any danger of the plaster cracking at this point has been entirely avoided by securing the sheathing in the manner here described.

In the ordinary construction of frame buildings of this type, the lower edge of the sheathing is nailed to the mudsill only, and as the mudsill is close to the ground, moisture creeps up not only through the foundation but also through the plaster coat, causing the heads of the nails to rust off in a comparatively short period of time, and when they do, the lower edge of the sheathing warps and curls .and thus causes cracking in the plaster. This is entirely avoided in the present instance, as the outer flange 3 of the anchor extends over the outer face of the sheathing, and even though the nails should rust away, the lower edge could not warp as it would be secured by the flange 3. By avoiding cracking of the plaster at this point, rain and moisture suificient to start mould and decay is prevented from entering. Furthermore, termites and like wood-destroying insects are excluded, and even though the plaster should slightly loosen to afford passages between it and the foimdation, the termites in crawling up would encounter the metal barrier formed by the anchor, and further progress would thus be stopped.

To facilitate the fastening of the metal lath at the lower edge thereof, tongues 2| may be punched in the flange 3. The tongues are normally flush with the flange but when they are to be used, they are bent outwardly to form hooks to which the lower edge of the metal lath may be secured. In ordinary building construction, the lower edge of the metal lath, such as chicken wire or the like, is only tacked on here and there, and is very liable to break loose at any time. By the hook-like structure above specified, a rigid fastening is made between the lower edge of the lath and the anchor strip.

While this and other features of the invention have been more or less specifically described and illustrated, I nevertheless wish it understood that changes may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

I claim:

1. In a building structure, the combination with the foundation, the frame supported thereon, and the exterior sheathing anchored to the frame, of a metal strip secured in the foundation and having a portion extending through the exterior face thereof, and a right angle or flange in the latter portion of the strip extending upwardly exterior of and adjacent to the sheathing, and confining the lower edge of the sheathing with relation to the foundation and the frame, said strip and flange extending substantially the length of the foundation.

2. In a building structure, the combination with the foundation, the frame supported thereon, and the exterior sheathing anchored to the frame, of a metal strip secured in the foundation and having a portion extending through the exterior face thereof, and a right angle or flange in the latter portion of the strip extending upwardly exterior of and adjacent to the sheathing, and confining the lower edge of the sheathing with relation to the foundation and the frame, said strip and flange extending substantially the length of the foundation; and anchor members in the strip securing the strip to the foundation.

3. In a building structure, the combination with the foundation, and the frame supported thereby, of a strip of metal partially embedded in the foundation and having a portion extending through and beyond an exterior face of the foundation, said strip having a length substantially the same as that of the foundation and having a rightangular upturned flange on the outer edge forming a channel on the outer face of the foundation, said channel adapted to receive and securely confine the lower edge of sheathing when nailed to the frame.

4. In a building structure, the combination with the foundation and the frame supported thereby of a strip of metal embedded in the foundation adjacent the upper surface thereof, said strip extending substantially the length of the foundation and projecting through the exterior face thereof, and a right-angular upturned flange on the outer edge of the strip forming, in conjunction with the foundation, a channel, said channel adapted to receive and secure the lower edge of the sheathing when applied to the frame; and a plurality of anchor members in the strip securing it against removal from the foundation.

5. In a building structure, the combination with the foundation and the frame supported thereby of a strip of metal embedded in the foundation adjacent the upper surface thereof, said strip extending substantially the length of the foundation and projecting through the exterior face thereof, and a right-angular upturned flange on the outer edge of the strip forming, in conjunction with the foundation, a channel, said channel adapted to receive and secure the lower edge of the sheathing when applied to the frame; and a plurality of horizontally and vertically disposed anchor members in the strip to secure it against removal from the foundation.

6. In a building structure, the combination with the foundation and the frame supported thereby of a strip of metal embedded in the foundation adjacent the upper surface thereof, said strip extending substantially the length of the foundation and projecting through the exterior face thereof, and a right-angular upturned flange on the outer edge of the strip forming, in conjunction with the foundation, a channel, said channel adapted to receive and secure the lower edge of the sheathing when applied to the frame;

and outwardly extending hook-shaped members formed in the flange to secure and retain the lower edge of metal lath when the lath is applied to the sheathing.

GEORGE F. BARNETT. 

